Phrase guide

get on

intj · verb · 22 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.

1

intj

Meaning 1

Expresses surprise or disbelief.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

To board or mount (something), especially a vehicle.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: intransitive, transitive

Examples

  • Please get on the bus as quickly as possible.
  • She has no trouble getting off a bus but has difficulty getting on.
  • I had to get on a chair to change the light bulb.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

verb

Meaning 3

To cope or manage (over time); to handle a situation; to perform or make progress.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: intransitive

Examples

  • John is really getting on at work.
  • I hear John has a new job. How's he getting on?
  • She's getting on very well at school.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

verb

Meaning 4

To progress (with); to move forward.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: intransitive, often

Examples

  • It's time to get on with improving quality.
  • We've wasted enough time now. Can we get on, please?

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

5

verb

Meaning 5

To progress (with); to move forward.

To move forward so as to approach a deadline or become late in the day.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: intransitive, often

Examples

  • Time is getting on. We need to hurry up or we'll miss our flight.
  • The hour is getting on. It'll be dark soon.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

6

verb

Meaning 6

To approach (a value, level, point in time, etc.)

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: intransitive

Qualifier: usually in continuous tenses

Examples

  • The cost was getting on for a thousand pounds.
  • She must be getting on for 65 years of age.
  • There were getting on for 40 people last night.
  • It was getting on for midnight before I went to bed.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

7

verb

Meaning 7

To become old.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: intransitive

Qualifier: usually in continuous tenses

Examples

  • My parents are visibly getting on (in years) these days.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

8

verb

Meaning 8

To have a good relationship; to get along.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: UK, intransitive, often

Examples

  • John doesn't get on with Jack. They're always arguing.
  • I wish you and I could learn to get on.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

9

verb

Meaning 9

To cope or deal (with).

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: UK, intransitive

Examples

  • I can't get on with prunes. They give me indigestion.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

10

verb

Meaning 10

To commence (an action).

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

Examples

  • Go get on to cleaning the floors, the others have already started.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

11

verb

Meaning 11

To place a bet on.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: archaic, slang, transitive

Topics: gambling, games

Examples

  • to get on a horse or a man

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

12

verb

Meaning 12

Synonym of have on.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Qualifier: African-American Vernacular

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: have on

Antonyms: none provided

13

verb

Meaning 13

To have sex; to be sexually promiscuous.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: slang

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

14

verb

Meaning 14

To do drugs; to get drunk; to buy drugs; to regularly use drugs.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: slang

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

15

verb

Meaning 15

To observe or notice.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: slang

Examples

  • Get on that guy!

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

16

verb

Meaning 16

grow old or older

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • She aged gracefully
  • we age every day--what a depressing thought!
  • Young men senesce

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: senesce, age, mature, maturate

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: develop

Narrower terms: turn, fossilize, fossilise, dote

17

verb

Meaning 17

develop in a positive way

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • He progressed well in school
  • My plants are coming along
  • Plans are shaping up

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: progress, come on, come along, advance, get along, shape up

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: develop

Narrower terms: climb, leapfrog

18

verb

Meaning 18

appear in a show, on T.V. or radio

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • The news won't be on tonight

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: be on

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: air

19

verb

Meaning 19

grow late or (of time) elapse

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • It is getting on midnight--let's all go to bed!

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: approach, come near

20

verb

Meaning 20

get up on the back of

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • mount a horse

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: hop on, mount, mount up, jump on, climb on, bestride

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: move

Narrower terms: remount

21

verb

Meaning 21

get on board of (trains, buses, ships, aircraft, etc.)

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: board

Antonyms: get off

Broader terms: enter, come in, get into, get in, go into, go in, move into

Narrower terms: embark, ship, entrain, catch

22

verb

Meaning 22

have smooth relations

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • My boss and I get along very well

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: get along with, get on with, get along

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: relate

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

85 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Arabic: رَكِبَ (rakiba) — to board or mount
  • Azerbaijani: minmək — to board or mount
  • Catalan: embarcar — to board or mount
  • Catalan: muntar — to board or mount
  • Chinese Mandarin: 上 (shàng) — to board or mount
  • Chinese Mandarin: 上車 /上车 (shàngchē) — to board or mount
  • Danish: stige på — to board or mount
  • Finnish: nousta — to board or mount
  • French: monter — to board or mount
  • French: enfourcher — to board or mount
  • French: embarquer — to board or mount
  • German: einsteigen — to board or mount
  • Greek: ανεβαίνω (anevaíno) — to board or mount
  • Ancient Greek: ἐπιβαίνω (epibaínō) — to board or mount
  • Italian: salire — to board or mount
  • Japanese: (...に)乗る — to board or mount
  • Japanese: (...に)乗っかる — to board or mount
  • Khmer: ឡើង (laəng) — to board or mount
  • Korean: 타다 (tada) — to board or mount
  • Norwegian Bokmål: gå på — to board or mount
  • Norwegian Bokmål: hoppe på — to board or mount
  • Russian: сади́ться (sadítʹsja) — to board or mount
  • Russian: сесть (sestʹ) — to board or mount
  • Spanish: montar — to board or mount
  • Spanish: cabalgar — to board or mount
  • Vietnamese: lên — to board or mount
  • Vietnamese: lên xe — to board or mount
  • Azerbaijani: minmək — to enter (a vehicle)
  • Catalan: embarcar — to enter (a vehicle)
  • Catalan: pujar — to enter (a vehicle)
  • Czech: nastoupit — to enter (a vehicle)
  • Danish: stige på — to enter (a vehicle)
  • Danish: stå på — to enter (a vehicle)
  • Danish: hoppe på — to enter (a vehicle)
  • Finnish: nousta — to enter (a vehicle)
  • French: monter — to enter (a vehicle)
  • French: embarquer — to enter (a vehicle)
  • Greek: μπαίνω (baíno) — to enter (a vehicle)
  • Ancient Greek: ἐπιβαίνω (epibaínō) — to enter (a vehicle)
  • Japanese: (...に)乗る — to enter (a vehicle)
  • Norwegian Bokmål: gå på — to enter (a vehicle)
  • Norwegian Bokmål: hoppe på — to enter (a vehicle)
  • Portuguese: entrar em — to enter (a vehicle)
  • Portuguese: subir em — to enter (a vehicle)
  • Portuguese: pegar — to enter (a vehicle)
  • Spanish: montar — to enter (a vehicle)
  • Turkish: binmek — to enter (a vehicle)
  • Catalan: progressar — to be successful
  • Finnish: menestyä — to be successful
  • Norwegian Bokmål: klare seg — to be successful
  • Russian: справляться (spravljatʹsja) — to be successful
  • Finnish: jatkaa — to progress (with)
  • Finnish: edistyä — to progress (with)
  • Finnish: edetä — to progress (with)
  • Norwegian Bokmål: komme i gang — to progress (with)
  • Norwegian Bokmål: gå i gang — to progress (with)
  • Norwegian Bokmål: sette i gang — to progress (with)
  • Finnish: tulla myöhä — to become late
  • Spanish: tardar — to become late
  • Azerbaijani: qocalmaq — to become old
  • Catalan: envellir — to become old
  • Finnish: tulla vanhaksi — to become old
  • Finnish: ikääntyä — to become old
  • Finnish: vanheta — to become old
  • French: se faire vieux — to become old
  • Greek: γερνάω (gernáo) — to become old
  • Italian: invecchiare — to become old
  • Norwegian Bokmål: eldes — to become old
  • Russian: старе́ть (starétʹ) — to become old
  • Russian: соста́риться (sostáritʹsja) — to become old
  • Russian: постаре́ть (postarétʹ) — to become old
  • Spanish: envejecer — to become old
  • Spanish: entrar en años — to become old
  • Spanish: peinar canas — to become old
  • Azerbaijani: yola getmək — to have a good relationship
  • Catalan: dur-se bé — to have a good relationship
  • Finnish: tulla toimeen — to have a good relationship
  • Polish: dogadywać się — to have a good relationship
  • Russian: ладить (laditʹ) — to have a good relationship
  • Spanish: llevarse bien — to have a good relationship
  • Catalan: som-hi — to commence an action
  • Finnish: aloittaa — to commence an action
  • Finnish: ruveta — to commence an action
  • Russian: приступать (pristupatʹ) — to commence an action
  • Spanish: manos a la obra — to commence an action